Don't Ever Let Anyone Tell You What You Can and Cannot Do
I was listening to a Podcast yesterday, and it's one I don't often listen to because it often angers me. I'm not going to name names, because I don't believe in publicly shaming others, be it a business or a person, but all you need to know is it was related to the fashion photography business. In this Podcast, the people were answering questions that their listeners had sent in. One of the questions was something along the lines of "Is it OK to feature personal work on your professional portfolio website?" The hosts gave their answers, which I agreed with, but then their stance changed. They began to talk very negatively about the wedding photography business.
Now, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but should that be voiced in a way that is degrading and rude to others? Of course not. The hosts of said Podcast were essentially saying that if you want to be a successful fashion photographer, you should NEVER have any links with the wedding world. They listed various reasons for this, all of which I thought were absurd. It was rude, degrading and just down right stupid. If you want to be a fashion photographer who also photographs weddings, you do that! I 100% agree that separate websites to display your work are essential because you want to target the right clients. But should you ever hide, or be ashamed of your business, simply to fit into another one? Absolutely not.
I'm obviously placing this in the context of wedding and fashion photography, but the same goes with any profession or dream you have. If you've ever been told that you can't do something, or shouldn't do something because "that's not the way things get done," I say ignore it. If I had always listened to the advice I was given at school, or things I was told by various people throughout my life, I would never have picked up a camera, never have started a magazine, and never have tried to build a career for myself in Cornwall. Rules are made to be broken, opinions are there to be challenged and dreams are there to worked towards! Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do.
